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Time to make her understand how important this was to him. Another six years of abuse would be unbearable. Harry hated to admit, even to himself, how poorly his relatives tended to treat him but at this moment he would do what was necessary to achieve his goals. And what was necessary was for Ms. Bones was to understand that Dumbledore and his muggle relatives were terrible guardians.
"Ms. Bones this is a very important matter for me. If I cannot have my preferred guardian then I must be responsible for my own welfare. I have spent the last decade being treated like a house elf. I cook, I clean, and I garden for my relatives. They beat me, forget to feed me for long periods of time, dressed me in my cousin's cast offs, and make sure that no one in their neighborhood will speak to me or help me. I have spent the last ten years sleeping, and frequently locked, in a boot cupboard under the stairs. It was dark, I was hungry, and there were a lot of spiders. My only crime was that I didn't die with my parents." In the face of Ms. Bones' open horror, Harry slowly and deliberately added "Professor Albus Dumbledore knew what they were like and he knew what they were doing to me but he left me there anyway. He knew how they treated me and he didn't care. I don't want everyone to know how I was treated but I will do almost anything to escape being under anyone's power ever again."
Ms Bones nodded. Her age seemed particularly heavy in that moment and her wrinkles exceptionally deep. Her expression was grim.
"One way or another Mr. Potter, I will not fail you."
Mrs. Bones and Harry went over a few more matters and the meeting ended just before lunch. Harry ate lunch in Tom's tavern, sitting at the bar and chatting with Tom. Tom, Harry realized, was very good at keeping other witches and wizards away from him. Harry had never noticed it the first time around, but Tom was a very good protector. After lunch Harry went to pick up his custom made trunk.
The trunk was the same size and shape as a standard student trunk. It was covered in stained dark brown leather – or perhaps that was cured dragon's hide? – and a pattern of literally dancing flames embossed around its edges. Directly under the lock a knot of coiling serpents was carved into the front of the trunk. At first glance, it appeared to be a standard student trunk with only one compartment.
"Set a password for the trunk" the trunk-maker said as Harry unlocked the trunk's main compartment with a key. "The spell to change the password is nomine."
Harry paused a moment, his eyes fixing on the serpents slithering and writhing together as he tried to think of an unusual password.
"Nomine. Teddy Lupin."
Harry turned the key in the lock and swung the lid open. The main compartment had been magically lengthened, widened, and deepened so that it had about twice as much space inside as Harry's original trunk had.
"Now press your finger to the lock" the trunk-maker said, his voice shaking ever so slightly.
Harry yelped. There was a stinging pain in his fingertip and the sense of a tongue licking over the wound. When he yanked his finger back, there was not a single mark on it.
"It's attuned to your blood and your magic now. After you unlock the trunk with the key and passwork, you can access the other two sections by pressing your fingertip to the lock. You can also password protect the other two drawers of your trunk if you like. You can even use different passwords."
Harry nodded. "Where are the other drawers?"
"Tap the snake directly under the lock."
Harry did so. A second drawer grew into existence underneath the first drawer. Harry pulled it open. It was just as spacious as the top drawer. When Harry slid the second drawer shut again, it disappeared.
"Now tap the flame in the bottom pattern that is directly under the lock and the snakes."
When Harry did, the entire bottom line of flames slid outward. It was a thin line of leather, about a centimeter wide, that pulled out as far as a proper drawer. Stairs led from it down into the dark. Lighting the tip of his wand, Harry leaned over to peer into the darkness. It was a cave, exactly like the one in Mad-Eye Moody's trunk. Harry leaned back and slid the third drawer shut again.
"There's a feather light charm already on it. The trunk will also shrink or allow transfiguration. It cannot be enlarged or put into any sort of extra dimension, however, due to the extra dimension in the third drawer."
"Perfect!" Harry beamed as he pulled out his coin purse. "How much do I owe you?"
Harry paid the rest of the trunk's purchase price plus a heafty tip.
"Why the snakes?" Harry asked as he picked up his trunk.
"It seemed appropriate." The man flashed Harry a shaky smile. "You're for Slytherin, right?"
Harry shrugged. "I'll be happy wherever I go."
The trunk-maker smiled. "Good luck then, Mr. Potter."
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Want to know what happens next?100+ advanced chapters await you on Patreon! Be the first to read what others will have to wait for. Join the community and read ahead today!
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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